HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-19-23 Planning Commission Special Joint Meeting Minutes
Commissioners Present: AJ Schrantz, Vice-Chair; David Hall; Van Taylor, Terry Hale,
Commissioners Absent: Kevin Meyer, Chairman; Frank Neice, Rachel Arthur
Town Staff: Mike Haskins, Economic Developer; Olivia Halem, Clerk of Council; Spencer Rygas, Town Attorney; and Summer Bork, Town Planner. Darlene Burcham, Town Manager (virtual).
Call to Order and Roll Call -Town Council
Mayor Collins called the meeting to order for Town Council at 5:08 PM. He asked for the roll call. The Council had all present save Mr. Radcliffe achieving a quorum.
Call to Order and Roll Call of Commission
Vice-Chair Schrantz called the meeting to order for the Planning Commission and asked for the roll. A quorum was achieved with four commissioners present.
Staff Report
Mayor Collins asked for the staff report. Mr. Haskins introduced Ms. Bork, the town planner, to Council. Ms. Bork provided the assembly with the staff report relating to 2023-RZ-002.
The proposed rezoning of 6 parcels on N. Washington Ave. [ 072-51-33-14, 072-51-33-10, 072-51-33-8, 072-51-33-6, 072-51-33-2, and 072-51-34-2] from I-2, Industrial District to B-2, General
Business District. Ordinance 2023-07.
Vice-Chair Schrantz opened the floor for commission questions.
Mr. Taylor asked what it the impact would be to changing the current zoning.
Ms. Bork explained that the parcels are currently zoned I-2, which has by-right uses for things like meat-packing, chemical manufacturing, and warehouses, and businesses like restaurants,
medical clinics, etc., are not by-right uses. For the present business to operate on these parcels. They would have had to be grandfathered in or filed for a variance. As this stretch
of Washington Ave. is a significant “entry point” into the town’s downtown area, making this zoning change would not only make business development in the area more accessible and be
in keeping with how the property is currently being used.
Mr. Schrantz commented that the change appeared consistent with the future land use map and the draft comp plan that the commission has been updating and aligns with the town’s long-range
vision of creating a mixed-use “northeast gateway” into town.
Mr. Taylor added that it makes sense that we have zoning that matches the property’s current use.
Mr. Schrantz added that he thought this was more a correction to zoning.
Mayor Collins opened the floor for council questions.
Mr. Reis asked if Medical offices, i.e., the eye clinic, by-right use as he was not seeing anything specifically mentioning medical in this section.
Ms. Bork answered that she believed medical offices were included under the definition of office general but would need to double-check.
Public Hearing
Mayor Collins and Vice-Chair Schrantz opened the Council’s and the Commission’s public hearing.
No members of the public addressed the bodies. However, a letter had been sent to the town and was included in the Commission’s and Council’s meeting materials. Ms. Hale had drawn Commission’s
and Council’s attention to it before the meeting started.
Vice-Chair Schrantz and Mayor Collins Closed the Commission’s and the Council’s public hearing.
The Planning Commission recessed for Close Session
The commission members needed clarification about which conference room was the east wing conference room and went to the wrong one. Ms. Bork did not realize using a specific meeting
room was procedurally significant. Mr. Rygas stepped into
the East Wing Conference room to redirect members of the public should that be necessary. It was not.
During the closed session, the planning commission moved to adopt a resolution recommending the council adopt the rezoning of the Washington Street parcels resolution, which is appended
to these notes.
Mayor Collins asked if there were any questions regarding the recommendation and called for a motion to adopt the rezoning.
No questions were asked.
Mayor Collins called for a motion regarding adopting the commission’s resolution. All Council present voted, Aye. (See Council’s notes for roll call).
Mr. Schrantz called for an adjournment of the Commission’s Meeting. Mr. Hale made the motion, and Mr. Hall seconded. All members present agreed. The meeting adjourned 5:21 PM.
Council then Adjourned their meeting—5:22 PM.
A.J. Schrantz, Vice-Chair
ATTEST:
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Summer Bork, Town Planner